Make-up device

ABSTRACT

A makeup device comprising a first region for storing a cosmetic product and a second region for loading an applicator with the cosmetic product, wherein the second region is separated from the first region.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a makeup device comprising a first region forstoring a cosmetic product. In that respect the invention relates inparticular to a makeup device which is used in conjunction with eyelashmakeup or mascara. The invention however is not limited to that use.

Makeup devices of the above-indicated kind are known. Theseconventionally involve what are known as dip systems in which anapplication device or applicator is dipped into the first region to loadthe applicator with the cosmetic product. The conventional makeupdevices need improvement:

Due to the applicator being dipped into the cosmetic product thecosmetic product can be contaminated, in particular with germs, as aresult of which it can become unusable. In order that the applicator candip into the first region at all, a comparatively large opening isrequired, and that involves a comparatively large surface area for airto act thereon, in regard to the stored cosmetic product. That givesrise to the risk of the stored cosmetic product drying out or ageing. Inaddition, in the case of viscous cosmetic products the applicator, afterbeing dipped thereinto, leaves behind a crater-like depression whichentails an increase in the surface area open to attack by the air. Inaddition, in view of the crater-like depression, a lady user could beinduced to “help things along” for example with water because she hadthe impression that the cosmetic product had dried out, therebyinvolving serious risks of contamination. Added to that is the factthat, when loading cosmetic product for example onto an applicator inbrush form having a stem, the cosmetic product can also pass onto thestem, whereby the stem becomes increasingly fouled. In addition precisemetering is not possible. It is also to be observed that wiper deviceswhich are conventionally provided are admittedly operative radially butnot axially, and for that reason lumps of the cosmetic product remain onthe applicator, and they result in overapplication and smudging whenapplying the makeup. If those lumps are wiped off for example on a papertissue, then cosmetic product is wasted. Finally a problem is also to befound in the fact that dried-out crumbly residues which are to be foundunder some circumstances on the applicator are mixed into the storedcosmetic product when the applicator is dipped, or dipped again, intothe first region.

The object of the present invention is to improve the makeup device ofthe kind set forth in the opening part of this specification in such away that the above-described disadvantages and problems are eliminated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention the specified object is attained by a secondregion for loading an applicator with the cosmetic product, wherein thesecond region is separated from the first region.

In other words, in accordance with the invention, the operation ofloading an applicator does not take place within the storage region forthe cosmetic product. That eliminates any “retroaction”. In particularthe problem of the stored cosmetic product being contaminated with germsno longer arises. In addition there does not have to be any access,corresponding to the size of the applicator, to the cosmetic productstorage means (first region), so that the risk of the cosmetic productdrying out or ageing because of excessively large surface areasaffording access to the air no longer occurs. There is also no risk of astem of an applicator being unintentionally smeared with the cosmeticproduct. Finally there is no possibility of crumbly residues passinginto the first region.

In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the inventionthere is provided at least one feed passage for feeding cosmetic productfrom the first region to the second region.

In a further preferred feature the makeup device according to theinvention has a conveyor means for conveying cosmetic product from thefirst region into the second region.

In that respect the conveyor means can be in principle of any desiredconfiguration. In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment ofthe invention however it is adapted to reduce the pressure in the secondregion relative to the pressure in the first region. Particularly whenthe above-mentioned feed passage is provided, cosmetic product isconveyed from the first region into the second region upon actuation ofthe conveyor means.

In a further preferred feature the conveyor means is coupled to anapplicator for the cosmetic product. That provides that the conveyormeans is actuated when the applicator is actuated, for example when theapplicator is removed from a rest position.

Preferably in accordance with the invention the conveyor means comprisesa piston-cylinder unit.

In that case in a further preferred feature the piston is disposed in ahandle portion of an applicator.

In order to be able to appropriately set the pressure conditions in eachrespective situation, in accordance with a particularly preferredembodiment of the invention the makeup device is provided with acontrollable valve.

In that respect, the valve can be open in a first operating condition ofthe conveyor means, whereas it is closed in a second operating conditionof the conveyor means.

In a preferred feature according to the invention the valve has a ringseal.

In that respect, a particularly preferred embodiment of the inventionprovides that the ring seal is displaceable and opens a vent opening ina first operating condition while it closes the vent opening in a secondoperating condition.

Additionally or alternatively in accordance with the invention theoperating condition of the valve is also pressure-dependent.

In that respect it can be provided for example that the valve opens whena threshold pressure is exceeded and closes when the pressure fallsbelow the threshold pressure. In other words the valve in accordancewith the invention is preferably bistable.

In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the inventionthe makeup device has a receiving region, which is separated from thefirst region, for an applicator in a rest position.

In that respect it can further be provided that the first region(storage region) surrounds the receiving region in the manner of atubular casing.

According to the invention preferably in that case the second regionadjoins the receiving region in such a way that the applicator passesthe second region (loading region) when it is removed from the receivingregion.

Particularly when the conveyor means is designed in the manner of apiston-cylinder unit and is coupled to the applicator, in thisconfiguration of the invention the applicator is loaded (automatically)with the cosmetic product upon being removed from the receiving region.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention a drag pistonserves for sealing off the first region with respect to the environment.

In that respect in a further preferred feature the drag piston has aclosure mass.

In a further preferred feature the drag piston has an abutment disk.That thus provides a metering stop.

In accordance with a further preferred feature the invention providesnot only the makeup device in accordance with the foregoingconfigurations but also such a makeup device in combination with anapplicator for the cosmetic product.

In addition the invention also relates to the applicator device for amakeup device in accordance with the foregoing configurations.

In that respect in accordance with the invention in a preferred featurethe applicator is coupled at least to a part of a conveyor means for thecosmetic product.

In a further preferred feature the applicator is coupled to a piston ofa piston-cylinder arrangement serving as a conveyor means.

Finally the applicator according to the invention has a handle portionwithin which the piston is arranged. With this design configuration thepiston which is found to be aesthetically unattractive is not visible.

It is expressly pointed out that the invention provides not only amakeup device of the above-described nature and an applicator of theabove-described nature separately in each case, but also a combinationof those two components with each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter by means of apreferred embodiment by way of example with reference to theaccompanying drawing in which:

The single Figure is a diagrammatic sectional view of a preferredembodiment of the makeup device according to the invention incombination with a particularly preferred embodiment of the applicatoraccording to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The makeup device illustrated in the drawing is denoted by referencenumeral 10. It is of a circular-cylindrical contour. A storage means 12serves for the storage of a cosmetic product, for example eyelash makeupor mascara. The storage means 12 is closed at the bottom in the drawingby an abutment disk 14 in the form of a circular ring. Disposed on theopposite side of the abutment disk 14 is a closure mass 16 which sealsoff the storage means 12 in relation to the environment in order toprevent the cosmetic product from drying out. The makeup device 10further has a receiving space 18 for a mascara brush 20 which is onlydiagrammatically shown in the drawing and which serves as an applicator.The receiving space 18 is separated from the storage means 12 by a wall22 surrounding the receiving space. It will be appreciated that it isalso possible to use any other applicators instead of the mascara brush20, such as for example plastic pressings and metal coils.

The mascara brush 20 is held by a holder 24 which in turn is fixed to ahandle portion 26, for example by gluing. A sealing ring 30 is disposedbetween the holder 24 and an inside wall 28 of the makeup device 10.

The holder 24 has vent openings 32, 34, 36 and 38. The handle portion 26has a vent opening 40. The function of those vent openings is describedhereinafter.

In the illustrated embodiment an O-ring 42 serves as a wiper. The wiperhowever can also be of a different configuration, for example in theform of a sealing lip. A conical projection 44 on the holder 24 servesfor centering purposes.

The end portion 46 of the wall 22 which is upward in the drawing, and anadjacent projection 48 serve as wipers. Formed between the wipers 46 and48 is an annular gap which serves as a feed passage 50. In thatarrangement the annular feed passage 50 surrounds the loading region 52.Instead of the annular feed passage 50 it is also possible to provideone or more “windows” in a wall which extends around the loading regionin an annular configuration.

A vent opening 54 is provided for venting the space behind the elements14 and 18 which serve as a drag piston.

The function of the makeup device 10 in conjunction with the mascarabrush 20 and the holder 24 is discussed hereinafter:

Let it be assumed that there is mascara or eyelash makeup in the storagemeans 12. When now the handle portion 26 is removed from the makeupdevice 10 the holder 24 moves upwardly in the drawing relative to themakeup device 10. As a consequence the sealing ring 30 is displaced insuch a way that it closes the vent opening 34. Upon further movement ofthe holder 24 within the makeup device 10 therefore the holder 24 actslike a piston within the makeup device 10 which serves as a cylinder,whereby a reduced pressure is produced. The result of that reducedpressure is that the mascara 12 is conveyed into the loading space 52 byway of the annular gap 50 serving as a feed passage. The mascara brush20 gradually passes that loading region 52, whereby the mascara brush 20is loaded with mascara.

Loading of the mascara brush in the loading space 52 is highly regular.In particular it is independent of the filling level. A screwthread canbe provided between the handle portion 26 and the makeup device 10 inorder to make the loading operation more uniform. More specifically thatprovides that the above-mentioned “withdrawal” of the handle portion 26from the makeup device 10 is rendered more uniform in its progress.

After the makeup operation, that is to say after use of the mascarabrush 20 or in between times when the mascara brush is all used up, themascara brush 20 is introduced into the receiving space 18 again. Inthat case it passes in particular the wiper 48 which removes any mascarawhich has dried solid on the brush. Any mascara residues which may bepresent at the inside wall 28 of the makeup device 10 are removed by theO-ring 42.

Introduction of the mascara brush 20 into the receiving space 18 alsoinvolves introduction of the holder 24 with the sealing ring 30. In thatcase the sealing ring 30 is displaced upwardly in the drawing withrespect to the holder 24, whereby the vent opening 34 is opened. Now,the space delimited by the inside wall 28 is communicated with theambient atmosphere by way of the vent openings 38, 36, 34, 32 and 40 sothat no increased pressure occurs.

With increasing consumption of the mascara in the storage means 12 theabutment disk 14 together with the closure mass 16 moves upwardly in thedrawing. As soon as the abutment disk 14 comes to bear against the upperboundary of the storage means 12 the makeup device 10 is all used up.That is evidently only the case when the mascara in the storage means 12is approximately 100% consumed.

Instead of the ring seal 30 and the vent openings 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40it is also possible to implement a different valve solution. For thatpurpose for example it is possible to provide at the bottom of thereceiving space 18 a valve which is biased elastically in the closingdirection and which opens at a given pressure within the receivingspace. In that case the opening pressure is 0.02 bar or lower.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, the claims and thedrawing can be essential for implementation of the invention in thevarious embodiments thereof both individually and also in anycombinations.

1-24. (canceled)
 25. A makeup device (10) comprising a first region (12)for storing a cosmetic product, and a second region (52) for loading anapplicator (20) with the cosmetic product, wherein the second region(52) is separated from the first region (12).
 26. A makeup device as setforth in claim 25, further including at least one feed passage means(50) for feeding cosmetic product from the first region (12) to thesecond region (52).
 27. A makeup device as set forth in claim 25 furtherincluding a conveyor means (24, 30, 28) for conveying cosmetic productfrom the first region (12) to the second region (52).
 28. A makeupdevice as set forth in claim 27, wherein the conveyor means (24, 30, 28)includes means to reduce the pressure in the second region (52) relativeto the pressure in the first region (12).
 29. A makeup device as setforth in claim 27 or claim 28 wherein the conveyor means (24, 30, 28) iscoupled to an applicator (20) for the cosmetic product.
 30. A makeupdevice as set forth in claim 27, wherein the conveyor means (24, 30, 28)comprises a piston-cylinder unit.
 31. A makeup device as set forth inclaim 30, wherein the piston (30) is disposed in a handle portion (26)of an applicator (20).
 32. A makeup device as set forth in claim 27,further including a controllable valve (30, 34).
 33. A makeup device asset forth in claim 32, wherein the valve (30, 34) is open in a firstoperating condition of the conveyor means (24, 30, 28), and is closed ina second operating condition of the conveyor means (24, 30, 28).
 34. Amakeup device as set forth in claim 33, wherein the conveyor means has aring seal (30).
 35. A makeup device as set forth in claim 34, whereinthe ring seal (30) is displaceable and opens a vent opening (34) in afirst operating condition and closes the vent opening (34) in a secondoperating condition.
 36. A makeup device as set forth in claim 32,wherein the operating condition of the valve is pressure-dependent. 37.A makeup device as set forth in claim 36, wherein the valve opens when athreshold pressure is exceeded and closes when the pressure falls belowthe threshold pressure.
 38. A makeup device as set forth in claim 25,further includes a receiving region (18), which is separated from thefirst region (12), for receiving the applicator (20) in a rest position.39. A makeup device as set forth in claim 38, wherein the first region(12) surrounds the receiving region (18).
 40. A makeup device as setforth in claim 38, wherein the second region (52) adjoins the receivingregion (18) in such a way that the applicator (20) passes the secondregion (52) when it is removed from the receiving region (18).
 41. Amakeup device as set forth in claim 25, including a drag piston means(14, 16) for sealing off the first region (12) with respect to theenvironment.
 42. A makeup device as set forth in claim 41, wherein thedrag piston means (14, 16) has a closure mass (16).
 43. A makeup deviceas set forth in claim 41 or claim 42 wherein the drag piston (14, 16)has an abutment disk (14).
 44. A makeup device as set forth in claim 25,wherein the applicator (20) receives a cosmetic product.
 45. A makeupdevice as set forth in claim 44, wherein the applicator is coupled atleast to a part (24, 30) of a conveyor means (24, 30, 28) for thecosmetic product.
 46. A makeup device as set forth in claim 45, whereinthe applicator is coupled to a piston (30) of a piston-cylinderarrangement serving as the conveyor means (24, 30, 28).
 47. A makeupdevice as set forth in claim 46, including a handle portion (26) withinwhich the piston (30) is arranged.